Dawie Snyman

Dawie Snyman

Birth name	Dawid Stefanus Lubbe Snyman
Date of birth	(1949-07-05)5 July 1949
Place of birth	Johannesburg, South Africa
Date of death	14 August 2025(2025-08-14) (aged 76)
Height	1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Weight	77 kg (170 lb)
School	Grey College, Bloemfontein
University	Stellenbosch University
Notable relative(s)	Jackie Snyman (brother)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fullback, Flyhalf Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 1970–1977 Maties () Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 1971–1977 Western Province 60 () International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1971–1977 South Africa 10 (24) Coaching career Years Team 1982–1989, 1992–1993 Western Province 1997–1998 Golden Lions 1998 South Africa sevens

Dawid Stefanus Lubbe Snyman (5 July 1949 – 14 August 2025) was a South African rugby union player and coach. ^[1]

Playing career

Snyman represented the Free State schools at two consecutive Craven Week tournaments. After school and completing his military training he enrolled at Stellenbosch University. In 1971, before playing provincial rugby, he was selected for the Springboks to tour Australia. Although he did not play in any test matches during the tour, being selected for the team made him only the third player, after JC van der Westhuizen and Danie Craven to represent the Springboks before playing for a province. He made his provincial debut for Western Province later during the 1971 season. ^[2]

Snyman's test debut was in 1972 at Ellis Park against the touring English side captained by John Pullin. Playing flyhalf, Snyman scored all the points for the Springboks in the 9–18 defeat to the English. During September to November 1972, Snyman toured with Gazelles, a South African under-24 team, to Argentina. Snyman played ten test matches for the Springboks, scoring 24 points, including one try. ^[3] He also played in twelve tour matches, scoring sixty-two points. ^[4]

Test history

No.	Opponents	Results (RSA 1st)	Position	Points	Dates	Venue
1.	England	9–18	Flyhalf	9 (3 penalties)	3 Jun 1972	Ellis Park, Johannesburg
2.	British Lions	3–12	Flyhalf	3 (1 dropgoal)	8 Jun 1974	Newlands, Cape Town
3.	British Lions	9–28	Replacement		22 Jun 1974	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
4.	France	13–4	Fullback		23 Nov 1974	Stade Municipal, Toulouse
5.	France	10–8	Fullback		30 Nov 1974	Parc des Princes, Paris
6.	France	38–25	Fullback	5 (1 conversion, 1 penalty)	21 Jun 1975	Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
7.	France	33–18	Fullback		28 Jun 1975	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
8.	New Zealand	9–15	Fullback		14 Aug 1976	Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
9.	New Zealand	15–10	Fullback	3 (1 dropgoal)	4 Sep 1976	Newlands, Cape Town
10.	World XV	45–24	Fullback	4 (1 try)	27 Aug 1977	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria

Coaching career

In 1982 Snyman was appointed the head coach of Western Province, with Charlie Cockrell as his assistant. During his tenure as head coach Western Province won the Currie Cup five times in a row from 1982 to 1986. In 1989, with Hennie Bekker as his assistant coach, Western Province shared the Currie Cup with Northern Transvaal. ^[5]

Death

Snyman died on 14 August 2025, at the age of 76. ^[6]

See also

• List of South Africa national rugby union players – Springbok no. 453

References

1. "Dawie Snyman". ESPN scrum. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
2. Craven, Daniel Hartman (1980). Die groot rugbygesin van die Maties. Kaapstad: G. & S. pp. 225–226. ISBN   0620048794. OCLC   86067195.
3. Jooste, Graham K. (1995). South African rugby test players 1949-1995. Johannesburg: Penguin. pp. 84–97. ISBN   0140250174. OCLC   36916860.
4. Colquhoun, Andy (1999). The South African Rugby Annual 1999. Cape Town: MWP Media Sport. p. 160. ISBN   0958423148.
5. Van der Merwe, Floris (2007). Matieland is rugbyland, 1980-2006. Stellenbosch: SUN Press. p. 218. ISBN   9781920109790. OCLC   190836768.
6. RIP Dawie Snyman (1949 to 2025)